(a) Any person who, as an employee, is discriminated against by his employer because such employee received, or was served with a summons for jury duty, or was absent from work to respond to a summons for jury duty or to serve on any jury in any court of this state, the United States or any state of the United States, may have an action against his employer in the circuit court of the county where the jury summons originated or where the discrimination occurred. If the circuit court finds that an employer terminated or threatened to terminate from employment, or decreased the regular compensation of employment of an employee for time the employee was not actually away from his employment because the employee served as a juror, the court may order the employer to cease and desist from this unlawful practice and order affirmative relief, including, but not limited to, reinstatement of the employee with or without back pay as will effectuate the purposes of this section.

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Terms Used In West Virginia Code 52-3-1

  • Juror: A person who is on the jury.
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an employer to pay an employee any wages or other compensation for the time the employee is actually away from employment for jury services or to respond to a jury summons.

(c) If the employee prevails in an action under subsection (a) of this section, the employee shall be allowed reasonable attorney's fees as fixed by the court.

(d) Any employer who discriminates against an employee because the employee received or was served with a summons for jury duty, or was absent from work to respond to a summons for jury duty or to serve on any jury in any court of this state, the United States or any state of the United States, is guilty of civil contempt and shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500.